Boat record holder’s new target
The new holder of the seven metre world power boat speed record, Peter Knight, of Christchurch, aims to go one better at Lake Ruataniwha at Easter week-end.
A hotelier, and the most successful exponent of his sport in New Zealand, he wants to break the existing Grand Prix record of 167.02 m.p.h. set by an American, Kent McPhail, in the United States eight years ago.
Knight plans to speed over the two laps of the
measured Lake Ruataniwha in better than 170 m.p.h. Only recently Knight attempted to break the Grand Prix record in The Boss, a 427 Chevro-let-powered unit, but had structural and motor problems at two attempts.
On the second attempt several weeks ago, little did Knight know that while he was attempting the Grand Prix record, he had surpassed the seven metre record.
The evening afterhe
tried to break the Grand Prix record, he realised that he may have set a seven metre record. He applied to the international body, and apart from some formalities, had been told this week that he has been granted the record.
Knight is going for a trio of world records. Several years ago, he set a record In the unlimited class, now he has the seven metre and his next aim is the Grand Prix. At his second attempt recently at Lake Rua-
taniwha, Knight experimented with a new motor.
It failed, Knight has now carried out an exhaustive search of the problem and a new motor will be placed in the Boss for his latest world record attempt It will be held between two major competitions. First, Knight will attempt to regain the Masport Cup and shortly after his world record attempt he will go for Grand Prix honours.
The major thing in
Knight’s mind is to create three world speed records on New Zealand waters.
He plans to win the New Zealand Grand Prix championships held over a series of rivers; he intends establishing himself as New Zealand’s most successful ever speed boat driven and he plans, along with his son, Peter, to build the most powerful speed boat that New Zealand has seen. It will almost certainly appear later in the year.
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Press, 30 January 1986, Page 22
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369Boat record holder’s new target Press, 30 January 1986, Page 22
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